Colchester & Tendring AC had representatives at several big events last weekend, including the English Schools Cross Country Championships and the Essex Road Relays.
Joe Patterson ran in an Essex Schools vest at Norwich, in the English Schools Cross Country event.
Patterson enjoyed an excellent run in the senior boys’ 7K race, finishing in a very respectable 68th place out a field of 334 runners.
Essex athletes won the overall Cup, a superb achievement by all.
Will Page, running for Suffolk at the same meeting and in the same age group, also gave a good account of himself to finish in a worthy 119th position.
Mary Ann Deasy, although feeling below par, stuck to her task in the senior girls’ race with a creditable run.
Elsewhere, at the Essex Road Relays, held over a 3x5K distance at Harwich sea-front, Colchester & Tendring AC’s female veteran team were delighted to win bronze medals.
The trio of Ellie Cumner (21mins 05secs), Jane Atkinson (21:11) and Sian Gifford (22:26) secured the third place. This should be a good confidence-booster for the new road season.
Meanwhile, the Harwich Parkrun saw two of the CATS’ very talented youngsters produce outstanding times.
Ten-year-old Kiera Jayne Atkinson finished second in 19mins 07secs, a personal best effort from a field of 93 runners of all ages.
Her nine-year-old sister, Kayleigh Ann Atkinson, was also in brilliant form to finish sixth in 20:12, which was also a PB.
Not to be outdone, Dad Kieron Atkinson was ninth in a PB of 20:42.
At the Colchester Parkrun, good efforts came from Ben Miller, who was third in 17:48, Elliot Black, who recorded a PB of 22:07, Georgina Sturgeon (23:45) and Elsie Baggot (25:02).
n Colin Ridley, of Colchester Harriers, clinched a silver medal at the National Veterans Cross Country Championships, held in Liverpool last weekend.
Ridley was second in the over-55 age group, after a terrific sprint finish. In fact, he was very unlucky not to be crowned champion.
Also last week, Ridley claimed the Masters over-55 veteran indoor 3,000m silver medal, by clocking 9mins 43secs at Birmingham.
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